Apparatus for producing pottery ware



Oct. 29, 1946.

W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERYWARE Original Filed March 29, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. 29, 1946. W, J IM|L1 ER 2,409,999

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERYWARE Original Filed March 29, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVVENTOR 5 mi@ gw/v?? William .I M7913 Ost. 29, 1946. l w. J. MILLER ,2,409,999

APPARATUS Fon PRODUCING POTTERYWARE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Magch 29.V 1935 Oct. 29, 1946. w. n.1. MILLE 2,409,999

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERYWARE Original Filed March 29, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 29,1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERYWARE Original Filed March 29, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 om@ Nw AWM .www

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Oct. 29, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINQ POTTERYWARE original Fild March 29, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. WILL/4M J lll/LER Oct. 29, 1946.

W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERYWARE Original Filed March 29, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet "7 4FIG. 21

Mam/12 J'I 5b ATT RNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1946 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PGTTERY WARE William J. Miller, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swiss vale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application March 29, 1935, Serial No. 13,683. Divided and this application August 18, 1945, Serial No. .611,367

Claims. l

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 13,683 filed March 29, 1935.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing pottery ware, and the principal object of the same is to provide an apparatus for making this class of Ware more expeditiously and economically than with the known machines now in use, the apparatus possessing numerous advantageous features of construction and operation inaugurated with a View toward improving the grade of ware and at the same time facilitating volume production With a minimumamount of manual attention.

The molds in which the ware is formed and fabricated are disposed on open-bottom trays and the latter mounted in series in an endless eXible, preferably continuously-driven, conveyor which progresses the molds adjacent the various fabrieating units and through a drier, and at such points where necessary, the trays are temporarily halted for a fabricating operation, the molds being accessible from above, below and through the sides of the trays, reciprooable and rotatable chucks serving to elevate the molds from the trays and rotate same in operative adjacency to such of the fabricating units as may involve this operation, or the chucks may serve to simply elevate or stabilize the molds during certain fabricating operations, the advancing Ware and/or molds being treated and the moisture content thereof regulated in accordance with the successive fabricating operations.

The complete apparatus includes automatically operated units or assemblies for producing ware of various shapes and designs, such for eX- ample as plates, cups, bowls, saucers and the like, means being provided for jggering or shaping certain articles of ware and only such of these units need be placed in operation as may be required in manufacturing a particular line of ware.

Figure l shows a View in side elevation of preferred arrangement of various units of the apparatus mounted in cooperative relation with a drier.

Figure 2 shows a plan View of the drier and apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation of a portion of the conveying mechanism.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modification in structure.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a preferred form of tray having a number of different types of molds disposed thereon.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, detail,

2 longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of the tray.

Figure 'l is a detail sectional View of a modified form of tray and conveyor trunnion construction.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8 8 of Figure '7.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views of modifications in parts which may be used, in the conveying system.

Figure l1 is a view in section and side elevation of a mold-actuating or jigger assembly.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional plan View taken on the line I2I2, Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the clay-progressing and compacting means forming part of the assembly for feeding charges of clay to the molds.

Figure 14 is an end View thereof.

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of a. portion of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the extruding means forming part of the feeder assembly.

Figure 17 is a View principally in transverse vertical section thereof,

Figure 18 is a View in front elevation of a tool or attachment carriage assembly to which various fabricating tools and attachments are applied.

Figure 19 is a view thereof in side elevation, and

Figure 2O is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 2li-20 of Figure 18.

Figure 2l is a View in front elevation of the profile and trimmer assembly.

The various fabricating units which go to make up the complete machine should be mounted in such order along the fabricating line as will permit each operation to be performed in proper sequence in accordance With the article of Ware being produced, and the frame of the apparatus is ,constructed to permit interchanging of the said units as desired. In Figure 1 the units are arranged so that the molds are rst cleaned at A, the clay charges fed to the molds at B, the charges prepared for the profile by being preformed at C and the charges shaped or proled to form same into ware at D, after which the ware moves into the drier.

The skeleton 0f the main supporting frame is generally indicated at 38, see Figure 1, and has attached thereto vor formed integral therewith side beams or plates 38a and 38h which serve to support the various cross shafts as well as the main drive shafts of the apparatus, these side beams being broken away at intervals to show the units in the interior of the machine. The frame is spanned across the top by removably-secured disposed on open-bottom trays or carriers 39 Y which are swingably mounted in series in endless flexible chain conveyors, the conveyor in the main drier being generally indicated at 49, said trays being provided with hollow or longitudinally-bored projecting trunnions 39a, see Figure 6 having rollers 39h rotatably mounted thereon, these rollers having concave peripheries which assist in centering the trays laterally while supported on tracks 4|, these tracks being adjustably secured to the frame 38 and serve to support the trays moving in on the right of the apparatus, see Figure 1. The tray trunnions 39a are constructed to cooperate with other units during the various fabricating operations and their preferred construction is clearly shown in Figure 6, said trunnions being removably threaded in the end members 39C of the tray and are formed with an enlarged annular grooved portion 39d which servesto prevent lateral displacement of the rollers 39h. A loose fitting bushing 39]e is preferably inserted over the end of the trunnion to provide a bearing for the hollow chain link forming part of the conveyor chain and permit the tray to swing freely without binding.

The tray frame is preferably of adjustable skeleton construction and comprises side members 39g which are connected for longitudinal adjustment by plates 39g', the side members being of channel construction and formed with a series of mold plate securing holes 391, see Figure 5, in the flanges thereof, to provide for adjustably mounting mold-supporting plates 39m and/or cross-supports 3911,. The cross supports 3911 may be notched to receive the mold, an advantage of this construction being that any size of mold may be accommodated by simply spacing the supports relatively to one another, while the plates 39m have a fixed recess which requires annular bushings or rings or analogous devices to provide for varying sizes of molds.

The conveyor chains of the main conveyor 40 are mounted on sprockets 42 and 43, the sprockets 42 being the main drive sprockets and are mounted on cross shafts 42a having bearing inthe side plate 38a at opposite extremities of the machine, and the sprocket 43 being guide sprockets which may also serve as drive sprockets for portions of the conveyor and are mounted on shafts 43a which may have bearing in the side frame of the drier. The mold-actuating units are preferably arranged so that they all may be primarily driven from a main drive shaft 44, supported and having bearing in projecting brackets 44a, which may be cast integral with or secured to one of the side beams 38a, and the conveyor drive is taken from this shaft by means of bevel gears 45 secured on the shafts 42a and pinion gears 45a secured on the opposite ends of the drive shaft 44.

To provide for intermittently halting portions of the conveyor without interruption to the main drive, the sprockets 42 at opposite extremities of the machine are driven in synchronism and a certain predetermined amount `of slack is provided in the conveyor chain, and at such points along the line where a fabricating operation requires the tray to come to a temporary period of rest, the trays are intermittently advanced at a speed in excess of the normal drive of the con- 4 veyor, the slack being periodically accumulated and dissipated on opposite sides of the advanced trays or tray, and the preferred means for accelerating a tray or series of trays is illustrated in detail by Figure 3.

The track 4l is preferably formed with traypositioning notches 46, see Figure 4, Where each fabricating operation requiring an inert tray ensues, and parallel with the track a, tray-carrying bar 41, also notched at 43a, see Figure 3 is provided which is intermittently reciprocated by means of a system of rods and levers 41a, 41h, 41e, 41d and 41e, and cams 41j and 41gI the rods 41a being pivotally secured at opposite extremities to the bar 41 and bell-crank levers 41h, the latter being pivctally connected by rod 41e which has pivoted thereto the one end of cam lever 41d, which is adapted to be actuated by cam 41g, the rods 41a and 41h being adjustable by means of turnbuckles 412 and 417'. The bell-crank levers are fulcrumed on pins 41k secured in the side plates 38a, and the cam levers 41d and 41e are fulcrumed on pins 411 adjustably secured to said plates, these 1atter fulcrum connections being adjustable both while in operation and while at rest. Cams 41j and 41g are adjustably secured on shafts 41m having bearing in the plates 38a. Y

In operation cam 41j actuates lever 41d, which in turn actuates bell crank levers 41h, thereby elevating bar 41, and as this bar rises it lifts the tray trunnions clear of the notches 46, and cam 41g then actuates lever 41e and the trays are advanced to the next succeeding notch, the bar 41 then lowering the trays onto the track and repeating the foregoing cycle of operations.

Figure 4 illustrates how the trays may be automatically disconnected from the conveyor for a fabricating operation and then again connected thereto without halting the conveyor and without utilizing slack to temporarily halt the trays during the normal drive of the conveyor. In this instance the chain is formed with a trunnion 48 which connects with the carrier by means of a hood 48a, see Figures 7 and 8 which is formed on the end of the tray trunnion 39a. The conveyor chain may be positively guided by supplemental sprockets 49 or drop by gravity from engagement with the trays when the latter are deposited on the tracks 4|, after which the trays may be progressed forward by the reciprocating bar 41 as in Figure 3 until the chain 4D again engages and lifts them from the tracks to resume their normal travel.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of tray-carrying member 48h which may be used in place of the cooperating chain trunnion 48 and hood 48a in Figures 9 and 8, these members 48h being pivotally mounted on the chain trunnions 48 and having a concave hook extremity adapted to receive the tray trunnions, which automatically center orcome to rest in the pocket formed thereby when the chains move upwardly to reengage the carriers. The .molds in which the Ware is formed are generally designated by the reference numeral 53 in the drawings and may be of the usual construction.

As the trays bearing the molds progress along the lower main fabricating line, they pass over reciprocable and rotatable chucks t2 at the several stations and forming part of the mold-actuating units shown by Figures l1 and 12. The complete assembly is mounted on a skeleton frame 63 which is adjustably secured on cross supports 63a, by screw bolts 63h, extending leficaces through enlarged openings, and centering dowels 63e, the latter being removed in the event it is desired t shift the unit from its initially aligned position. The cross supports 63a are suitably adjustably secured to the base of the main frame 38 of the machine. The casting or frame 63 is provided with a bearing housing for a spindle 64. y

The spindle 64 is in spline-slidingl engagement with a chuck spindle 62e on which the chuck `62 is secured by a screw 62o' and dowel pin 62c2, reciprocation being imparted to the chuck 62 and spindle 62o by means of a cam 62d, which is adjustably mounted on a cross shaft 62e having bearing in the side frame plates 33a of the main frame of the apparatus, said cam actuating a lever 62j. The pivoting assembly being supported from the frame 63, and at its opposite extremity pivotally secured to a pitman 62g, the pitman connecting with spindle 62o by means of across fork 62h, which is adjustably secured to said pitman by nuts 62"; at its one extremity and forked into an annular groove in the spindle 62o at its opposite extremity. The pitman 62g projects through and is guided by extensions 62a of the frame 63, the upper end of said pitman having adjustably threaded therein a contact screw 62k, the function of which will later become apparent.

Rotation may be imparted to the spindle 64 in the unit illustrated in Figure l1 by means of cooperating friction gears g and 64h, the gear 64g being adjustably secured on the spindle 64 and the gear 64h splined for longitudinal sliding movement on a cross shaft 641', which is preferably continuously driven, this shaft having bearing at opposite extremities in the side frame plates or beams 38a.

The friction gears 64g and 64h are brought into intermittent contact by a lever and brake assembly comprising a brake shoe 64j formed with studs for mounting the shoe for vertical movement on the frame 63, a bell-crank lever 66k pivoted or fulcrumed in said frame, a connecting rod 'l adapted to be adjustably pivoted at one extremity in any one of a plurality of holes formed in said bell crank lever and at its opposite extremity adjustably secured by nuts 64m on a pitman 641i, and cam-contacting arms 6130 and 61311 which are also adjustably secured on the pitman 64a by nuts 64g and 641'. These arms 64o and Bep are alternately raised and lowered by separate cams, not shown. The frame 63 is formed with guide brackets Bt for the pitman 641i.

To vary the speed of rotation of the chuck during reciprocation thereof,` the splined friction gear 64h is provided with a grooved hub 64th', also splined on shaft 641', and a grooved cam ihZ is adjustably secured on shaft 62e, motion being transmitted from the cam to said gear by a lever 64h23, which is adjustably pivotally supported at its upper extremity on a bracket extension 63e of the frame 63, said lever extending downwardly and adjacent cam Mk2 being provided with a pin 64M working in the groove of said cam, and at its lower extremity said lever connects with the grooved hub 64h by `a link SM5 and pin 64H6 working in the `groove of said hub. l In operation, the Vchuck-reciprocating cam 62d and brake cams being adjusted to work in synchronism, when the chuck spindleand chuck elevate, the brake 64j is released, permitting spindle imparting rotation to the chuck; and when the chuck is lowered, brake 64j is raised and thus contacts withV gear 64g and raises the spindle 64, thereby moving gears 64g and 64h out of contact and stopping rotation of the chuck.

To gradually accelerate and decelerate orvary the speed ofrotation of the chuck during reciprocation thereof, the drum cam {5l-h2 and lever 64h3 may be used to move the gear 64h relatively to gear 64g, Ordinarily, however, the brake, if properly adjusted, will operate to effect gradual contact and release of the gears 64g and 64h and provide for smooth operation of the chuck 62. The shaft 611i, on which the continuously driven gears 64h are splined, and the cam shafts 62e are arranged so that they may be driven from the main drive shaft 44'. l

Super andsub-atmospheric pressure and other mediums may be applied to the molds through the chuck for various fabricating operations, the passages 62a and B2b extending down into the chuck spindle 62o as shown and opening out into annular registering air grooves 62a' and 6212' formed in a hood i6 having a working fit around said spindle and adjustably supported on the frame 63 by a thread rod 16a, hose nipples 62a2 and 62b2 being threadedinto the hood 1l] and communicating with said grooves. A further communicating passage opening out in the bottom of the chuck is provided by a bore 1I in the screw 62o', the interior of the spindle-62c being hollow, thus forming a chamber lla, and the hood i6 having a further groove '1lb in communication with said chamber, a hose nipple 1 Ic being threaded into the hood i6 and communicating with said groove. Where the passages 62a, 62h

and 'H open out into the chuck 62, resilient seal- `M to lower and thus lowering gear 64g into coning and cushioning pads 621 are adjustably threaded into said chuck.

TheV clay of Which the ware is to be formed may be taken from the conditioningr apparatus in the usual cartridge or slug form and Idisposed in a hopper 18o opening into a progressing and cornpacting chamber 18, Figure 13, having a driven screw 73a working therein, which progresses and compacts the clay into a conduit 8i, Figure `16 tending transversely of the machine across the line of molds as they advance on the trays 39, and from this conduit the clay is forced into extruding chambers and extruded and segregated in measured charges into or on the molds by the reciprocating plunger assembly illustrated in Figure 17.

The chamber 18 is formed With a supporting bracket 18B, adapted for posts 18h' which are secured in one 0f the top plates 33o and by means of which the entire feeder assembly may be adjustably supported over the mold-actuating assembly. The screw 18a is preferably formed in sections and the required number of these sections are assembled on the squared portion of a shaft 18C and secured from endwise displacement by an end cap 18d, said shaft having bearing in a detachable head 16e formed with a hub 18e and bracket 18j, see Figure 13, the bearing being provided with the usual packing gland and packing to ensure against leakage and wear on the bearing.

The walls of the chamber 18 are preferably uted longitudinally to prevent angular movelment of the clay, and in the top wall a return passage 18g is formed, the inlet 78h of which is shaped to seat a valve 131' provided with a stern 187' `having a sliding t in an exteriorly-threaded sleeve 18k against the resistance of a spring "I'SZ,

saidsleeve beingfadjustablythreaded in a cover plate '78m and secured by,V lockv nut 18u, and the outlet of said passage opens into the hopper 18o. By adjusting sleeve Bk, theunseating pressure of valve 'l8r' may be regulated to thereby regulate the operating pressure in the conduit 8l. When the Valvevunseats, clay is permittedto pass through the return passage 18g back into the hopper 18o. The screw 18a is preferably but not necessarily intermittently driven by a continuouslyrotating sprocket gear 79, which is rotatably mounted on shaft 18o, and an intermittently-rotating ratchet gear 19a, which is splined on said shaft by a key 1919, the said sprocket 'I8 having a pivot pin 19o secured therein for .pivotally mounting a dog '19d adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear 19a. The dog is pivoted at an intermediate point and has secured in one side thereof a contact pin 19e ,which makes alternate contact with trip cams '19j and 18g, see enlarged end view-Figure 15, these cams being mounted in a radial' path of said pins 19e on blocks 19h, which are angularly adjustably secured or clamped by bolts 192' on a ring 195i, which in turn is secured to the bracket 'If by ,screw bolts 19k. The cam lef, which throws the dog '19d out of mesh with the teeth of the ratchet gear 19a, may be rigidly secured to 4block 19h, but it is preferred to mount cam 19g, which throws the dog into mesh with the teeth of said gear, resiliently to ensure against breakage or jamming in case said dog should come down on top of one of the teeth of the ratchet. The cam 19g is therefore pivoted at one extremity on block 19h and has secured therein a stop pin 19g which normally contacts with a block 1992 in which a spring 'l9g3 is seated, trip cam 19g being maintained under resilient pressure by said spring. To maintain the dog 19d in tripped position, a ball and socket spring 19d is seated at one endin the said dog and at its opposite end seated in a lug 'ISdZ formed on the sprocket gear 79, said spring exerting resilient pressure on the dog in a longitudinal plane in line with its axis, it will snap back into or out of mesh with the teeth of ratchet 19a. To limit the disengaged position of dog 19d, a stop pin 'I9d3 is secured in the side of gear 19.

A thrust bearing 191, see Figure 13 is applied on the shaft 18o between a shouldered portionof said shaft and the bracket 18j.

In operation, the continuously-rotating Vgear 'I9 carries its pivotally-mounted dog around the periphery of ratchet 19a, the dog being alternately thrown into and out of mesh with said ratchet by trip cams 19g and 191, and as these cams are adjustable by shifting the position of blocks 19h on their supporting ring 197, the travel of ratchet 19a and screw 'd8a may be varied as desired.,v

Reverting briefly to Figure 1 power for driving the screw 18a may be taken from a shaft 8B which extends along the side of the machine, motion being transmitted from this shaft tothe various cross shafts 80a for the lower line of fabricating units by means of helical gears 61 and 61a similar to those used for the shaft 44 and cross shafts 62e. The shaft 89 has bearing in bracket 80h and the cross shafts 83a have bearing in the side frame hand portion of Figure 2 -instead of being driven direct from shaft 80. Y y

Referring now to Figure 17, the clay compactingin the conduit 8l isvforced upwardly through openings Bla, formed in the top of the said conduit wherever the extruding assembly is to be in` stalled, and into a'chamber 8lb formed in a pivot post alc, and vfro-rn the chamber 8lb the clay passes through registering openings 8| b and 8lb2, respectively formed in the sideV wall of the post 8Ic `and the hub of a pivoted turret casting ald, andinto one of a series of chambers 8lb3 formed in a multiple of radial cylinders 8 le forming part ofthe turret Bld, from which the clay is extruded'into or on the molds. While the clay could beextruded direct from the conduit 8| onto the-molds, the construction here shown is adapted for producingdifferent kinds of ware in succession, as where plates, cups and saucers .are being formed in one line of molds. The turret 8ld, therefore, may be rotated on the pivot post 8 lc in synchronism with the mold conveyor to bring each cylinder over a mold as it is advanced in line if diiferent types of molds are in the same line. Howeven this operation may not be desired in manyinstances, as where the same type of ware is ybeing produced in one line and where the moldreceiving or upper die is adapted for different shapes of ware, as will hereinafter become apparent. Y v

The upper extremity of the turret ld is formed with a shoulder and trunnion to receive a gear Blf, which is rotatably mounted thereon, the gear being recessed to house a resiliently mounted latch or detent the shoulder being formed with a number of recessesin accordance with the number of extruding cylinders 8le, here three. After the gear and detent assembly have been applied, the gear is secured from displacement by a cap 8lh.` The side of the turret Sld is also bored to receive a spotting or positioning detent assembly Sli, and the side wall of the pivot post Slc is formed with a plurality of notches, here three, so that when the turret is rotated to its approximate angular position, it is spotted by said detent.

The `upper extremity of the pvot post 81o is threaded and thereonis adjustably mounted a lever-supporting bracket or post 82, the lower extremity of which is rounded and enlarged as at82a and threaded over the post 8lc and secured by lock nut 82a', said bracket 82 also being cast with 'a branch bracket 82h. On the upper extremity of this bracket 82 a lever 8U' is adjustably pivoted, said lever 8l7` terminating in a, gear segment 8l1c, which is in continual mesh with the turret -gear Elf. TheV lever 8ly is oscillated by a groove cam 8l Z, see Figure 16, which is formed lwith a groove 8|Z and adjustably secured on the shaft a, said lever being provided with a pin Bly" which engages in said grooves.

As the cam 8IZ rotates, lever Sly' is oscillated, thus oscillating turret gear 8U, the length of the stroke .being adjusted in accordance with the angular spacing of the detent slots in the shoulderof the turret Sld. Thus ifA the turret is to be 4intermittently rotated counter-clockwise, the detent is turned so that the toe of its beveled end faces in that direction, and if clockwise, the detent is simply turned in its socket accordingly, whileifrthe turret is to be oscillated back and forth, the detent is turned to an intermediate position. 'Qns the `clay is progressed into the chambers 8 i123 it is extruded therefrom in measured charges by reciprocating plungers, each of which comprises a stem 83, which is hollow or formed with a longitudinal bore 83a, the lower extremity of the plunger being threaded to adjustably receive a socket 83h, in which is threaded a porous head 83C composed of material such as plaster of Paris and having a chamber 83o' therein, the bore 83a terminating in said chamber. The head may be secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 83d. The-stem 83 extends upwardly Vthrough the top of the cylinder Ble, which is provided with a packing gland 83e, said cylinder being formed with an extension guide bracket 81e' for said stem, the latter moving upwardly against the compression of a spring 33,1, which encircles the stem B3 and is adjustable by a collar 83g threaded on the stem 83, to adjust the lowermost point of the reciprocation or travel of the plunger. I

The extruding plungers are forced upwardly against the compression tension of springs 83]c by a lever 83a', adjustably pivoted at one extremity on the bracket B2b, and at its opposite extremity said lever has pivotally mounted thereon a hook 337', adjustable by turn-buckle 83j',

said hook engaging under a collar 83k, which is adjustably secured on each plunger stem 83. Lever S31' is actuated by a cam 831, which is adjustably mounted on the shaft Sila.

Means are provided for applying a treating medium,` such as super and sub-atmosphere, electricity or other fluid to the clay charges, the rounded part 82a of bracket 32 and the upper extremity of post Bic `being formed with registering bores or passages 83m. and 8371. which register with bores orl passages 83m and 83u formed in the turret 8ld, the passage 83m connecting with the plunger bore through a hose 83o and the passage Sn leading down through the turret and terminating in an upper'die or former generally designated by the numeral 84 and whichV will now be described. The passages 83m and 8311, are provided with nipples for attaching the hose 13 thereto for the control valves 12, Figure l2.

To provide for progressing different grades and mixtures of clay into` one conduit and feeding a particular mix 0r grade into a particular advancing line or lines of molds, it is preferred to mount the progressing and compacting assembly shown in Figure 13 at both ends of the conduit 8l, and the extruding orifices along the conduit may be separated from one another by slide valves Slm. `Thus a certain grade or mix of clay may be progressed into each end of the conduit and maintained separate by the slide valves, or if it should be desired to feed a different grade or mix of clay to each line of molds,

a separate feeding chute and screw could `ob- The operation of the feeder should nowbe understood. The clay may be` deposited in the hopper 'E80 lin the usual cylindrical roll as it is taken from the conditioning apparatus, the screw iSd being intermittently `actuated to progress and compact the clay in a homogeneous mass into the conduit 3l, from which it is forced upwardly If the turret is to thro-ugh `the chamber Bib. be rotated tol feed different types of molds in succession, the detent 8Ig is turned in therproper direction, and as the openings 8 lb and 8Ib2 reg,-` ister, the clay passes into the chamber BIDS, from which the feeding plungers eject or-extrude and segregate it in measured charges against the molds, which are preferably elevated to the upper die and form a confining chamber substantially bounded on all sides by porous `material and into which the clay is extruded, the descending plunger completing the walls of the chamber. The feeding plungers need only be raised "to a point sufcient to permit approximately thecorrect quantity of clay to pass into the feeding orinces, the side walls of which form an accumulating chamber or well, and at which time it is preferred to partially rotate the screw 18a, whereupon the descending plungers move into the orifices and eject the clay in the form of a kcolumn onto the' molds wtih sufficient force to cause it to adhere thereto, and it is preferred to adjust the mold-actuating mechanism so that the molds meet the extruding column, which through contact with the side walls of the extruding orifice assumes a bulbous shape, the column spreading radially over the molds and expelling the air from the gradually closing chamber, until the molds and upper dies meet, at which time or shortly thereafter the charge is completely extruded by thedescending plunger head. f

It is preferred to leave a 4clearance tween the` plunger head 83e `and sidewalls of the extruding orifice orwell, to permit back extrusion .of excess materialinto the chamber 81133.

By establishing a sub-atmospheric.condition between the chuck and mold, the latter will be held `firmly on the chuck and be prevented from sticking to the upper die if therefshould be anytendency in that direction.A In the event it is desired to apply super-atmospheric pressure to the under-portion of the mold, the chuck may be magnetized to maintain the mold and chuck in association. i Y

It will be seen that the drying of the ware and4 extent and time of adhesion and/or release of the ware relativelyvto the mold walls `is under artificial control and therefore may be positively timed to conform with the various fabricating operations as thel ware is advanced along the fabricating line without retarding or delaying production.

Many of the fabricating tools and attachments are mounted on a standard form of carriage assembly substantially similar to that illustrated in Figures 18 `and 19, for the purpose of giving them the desired movements relatively to the ware on which they are to perform.

The reference numeral 85 designates Vertical -guide and stop posts which are adjustably secured in and depend from one of the top plates 38o of the machine, see Figure l, a frame 85a shown as of rectangular shape being mounted to have a vertical sliding fit on said posts, nuts 85h being threaded on the lower extremities of said posts vto adjustably limit the lowermost point of travel of said frame. The frame 85a is `formed witha bracket 85e, which is bored to receive a'pivot bolt 85d, which is adjustably secured by nut 85d', a

lever ebeing pivoted at one extremity in said bolt andat its opposite extremity adjustably and pivotally supported from a post 85j, which also depends from and is secured in the top plate 38o. This lever 85e is provided withva cam roller 85e adapted for contact with various types of frame- Aactuating cams shaped in accordance with the work involved and which are mounted on one of the cross shafts 33a, or if'the'variable speed as space besembly is used, on the sleeve 68, thesecams being shown in connection with the various attachments hereinafter described. k Y

VThe lower portion of the frame 85a is formed with a dove-tail slot or groove in which a bar 85g is mounted to have a horizontal sliding t, the bar at the left as viewed in Figure 18 being formed with a vertical guide bracket 85h having a central slot or track 85h. A lever 35i provided with a cam roller 851" is pivotally and ad-y justably supported at its lupper extremity from a post 851i, and at its lower extremity said lever is provided with a pin 852'2 adapted to have a working fit in said track 85h. As in the case of lever 85e, the cams for the lever 85i are given the required contour in accordance with the work involved and are mounted on one of the cross shafts 88a or sleeve 68, each attachment generally requiring a particular contoured cam which is illustrated in connection with the attachment.

The bar 85g is slotted at 857C, a pin 85k being secured in the frame 85a, a compression spring 857c2; being mounted to abut at opposite ends, respectively, against said pin and the bar 85g. The bar `85g' is also provided with a screw bracket 851 in Which a contact screw 85m is mounted, which serves to adjustably limit the movement of bar 85g in one direction independently of its cam 'travel or reverse movement. vThe screw bracket 851 is adapted to kbe attached at either end of bar 85g and the spring 85k2 at either end of slot 85k, to conform to the positive direction of movement of the cam lever 852'.

It will be seen thatwhen levers 85e and 851 are oscillated, the frame 85a reciprocates vertically and thebar 85g laterally, the bar deriving its vertical movement from said frame. The frame is provided withscrews 85u and 85o adapted to beadjusted in contact with the posts 85 and frame 85a in the event the actuating cams are to be disconnected and the frame and bar set in 'rigid adjusted position,

An. attachment and tool-mounting turret disk 86 is supported from the slide bar 85g by means ofa hanger bracket 86a, said bracket being formed with projecting hub portions 86a and 86a2, see Figure 20 and 4is secured to the bar 85g by screws 86113. 'see Figure 19. the disk 86 being rotatably mounted on the hub 85a and prevented from lateral displacement bya ring 86014. A shaft 8th extends through and has bearing in the projecting hubs of bracket 86a, this shaft functioning in a manner which will later become apparent. The disk, like the feeder turret 81d, may be rotated intermittently in one direction or oscillated,y the detents 8|g and 8Iz' being housed, respectively in a gear 86o and the bracket 86a land adapted to register in detent or latch notches lgvand spotting notches 8 Iz" formed in one side of Asaid disk 86, there being four of each of said notches in the present instance. The gear 86e is mounted to rotate free on the bracket hub 86:15 and the teeth 86o'Y of said gear are in continual mesh with the teeth 86d? of a rack 86d` the latter being slidably dove-tailed into a groove formed nin the bracket 86a. see Figure 20, and terminatingin a T-head 86d2. see Figure 18, which is formed with a trackr86d3. The rack 86d is actuatedV by a bell-crank lever 85e. which is fulcrumed at 86e on a bracket extension 86e2 formed on the frame 85a, the one extremity of said lever 86e being provided with a pin 86e3 which has a sliding fit in the groove or track 86d3, while the opposite extremity of said lever has pivoted thereto a connecting rod 863 which extends through a guide bracket 86f3 andterrriinates in a T-head 86]" formed with a groove or track 8f2, said T-head cooperating with a lever 86g pivotally supported at its upper extremity from a post 85h, which is secured in one of the top frame plates 38C, and at its lower extremity said lever is provided with a pin 86g' having a sliding fit in the groove or track 86,12 of T-head 86j". Lever 86g is provided with a cam roller SgZ adapted to contact with a suitably shaped cam to be mounted on shaft a, these cams also being generally shown with the respective attachments hereinafter described. A retractng spring 86de is secured at opposite extremities, respectively, to the T-head 86112 and the bar g,

A screw 8611 is shown as threaded in the bracket Sta, see Figure 20, this screw being adjusted against the turret disk 86 when it is desired to maintain said disk stationary with said bracket. A screw 667 is also shown threaded in the hub 86112 of bracket 86a, and this screw may be adjusted against the shaft 86h when it is desired to maintain the latter stationary with said bracket.

The disk 86 is provided with a plurality of holes 86k for attaching various fabricating tools and attachments, such as shaping tools, turning and finishing tools and transfer chucks, which will be described in connection with eachv respecl.

tive fabricating operation The shaft 86h may be driven by either a posi-V tive or friction drive.

A bevel gear 81, formed with a hub 81', is shown as adjustably secured on the shaft 86h, this gear meshing with a similar gear 81a secured on a stub shaft l87a which has bearing in the projccting extremity of a bracket arm 86a5'formed as part of the bracket 86a. A bracket 81h is Y adjustably supported by a post 81h from one of the top frame platesV 38o and extends down and at its lower extremity is formed with a foot 8'lb2, a stub shaft 81o having bearing in said foot, this shaft forming part of a flexible coupling comprising a sleeve 81o and longitudinally grooved shaft 8702 in splineesliding engagement with said sleeve, the lower extremity of shaft 8102 being coupled for universal movement with the stub shaft 81a on which gear 87a is secured. The stub shaft 81o of the flexible coupling has adjustably secured thereon a pinion gear 81d. If pinion 81d is used, the drive is effected bymeans of a segmental gear 81e formed on a lever 81e', which is adjustably pivotally mounted on the bracket 81h and provided with a cam roller 8Te2 adapted to contact with a cam to be mounted on shaft 88a or sleeve 68 and which may be given various contours in accordance withrthe rotation desired for shaft 86h. The lever 81e may be retracted by a spring Blf.

If the rotation of shaft 86h is to be alternately reversed, the drum cam 81h may be used; this cam movement causing the friction gear 81g to move across the face of gear 81d', and when the gear 81g passes over the vertical axis of gear 81d', the rotation of said gear will be halted and then reversed, thus reversing the drive on said shaft 86h. Y l

Some of the fabricating attachments are shown mounted directly on the turret disk 86 while others are shown mounted on a turret 88, which is secured to the disk 86 by screws 88a. This tur ret may be' rotated in accordance with the particular attachments in use', If there are four attachments on the turret. and all arev being used in succession, the lever Btg may be actuated by Super and sub-atmosphere, electricity and other fluid mediums may be communicated to the various fabricating attachments that may be applied to the turret disk 86, see Figure 20.

Hose nipples 'l3e4 and 73M are secured in the bracket 85a, see Figure 20, for connection of the air or uid lines leading to control valves.

The profile and trimmer assemblies are shown in Figure 21 as being mounted directly on the turret disk 8e, there being four profiles 90, 90a, 90b and Suc shown, so that four different kinds of ware may be shaped in succession, or the turret disk oscillated to alternately move any two pro.. les into operative position. rThe profiles are adjustably secured to the disk 35 by slotting the disk and profile at right angles to receive attaching bolts as at Sed. Excess material openings 84o, sloped so as to present a scooping edge counter to rotation of the mold, are preferably formed in the proles, these openings terminating in a cavity or channel. r

The profile 90 is for undercut ware, and is provided With a resiliently mounted brim-forming ring 90e having a brim-contacting porous or plaster insert.

To ensure accurate positioning of the profile relatively to the molds and uniform thickness of the ware, a contact screw 62k. may be adjustably mounted in a bracket 62M secured to the turret disk 86. said screw being adjusted to contact with screw 62k threaded into the top of the pitman 62g, Figure 11. When the mold and profile reach their approximate operative positions, the screw 62k and 62k contact and the profile moves a Vshort distance in unison with the mold.

A suitable uid such as water may be automatically applied to the clay charge during profiling through the passages '13e and 'H312 one of Which in Figure 2l is shown as having a tube connected thereto which terminates in a valved nozzle 981. The fluid may be controlled by one of the valves 12.

A bracket 95a carrying screws 92a and 92h may obviously be applied to the turret disk 8E for each profile assembly, and the use of this feature is not confined to the production of irregularly shaped ware, but said screws may serve as an `alternate means or in addition to horizontal limiting screws 85m and vertical profile-limiting screws 62k and 62k', for dennitely limiting the horizontal and Vvertical operating positions of each profile assembly.

Referring to the treating nozzles, Figure 11, operate on the molds at A and place them in con-dition to receive the charges of clay from the f' feeder at B. At C the operation is optional, this being the performing unit. At D the'profiles and trimmers are mounted and shape the soft clay into ware.

The trays 3S are intermittently advanced under these various units by the apparatus described in connection with Figure 3, the conveyor chain being provided with slack to accommodate this method of conveyance, and as each tray comes to rest in a definite position over the chucks 62;,

Figure 1l, these chucks rise and elevate the molds from the Itrays to provide a stable supportfor and definitely position the molds and also cooperate therewith to apply super and/or sub-atmosphere,

electricity and analogous mediums to the molds and Ware to assist in the fabricating operations.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, means for 14 forming Ware .on said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on said support and removing loaded moldsdirectly therefrom and carrying them away.

2. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising an intermittently moving support for molds for carrying `them through a fabricating zone, means for forming ware on said molds in said fabricating zone, and a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly upon said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom while saidsupport is at rest.

3. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a unitary support for carrying molds through a fabricating Zone, means for forming ware on said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said support.

4. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising an intermittently moving unitary support for molds for carrying them through a fabricating zone, means for forming ware on said molds in said fabricating zone, and a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said support.

5. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating Zone, means for forming ware on said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for setting empty molds directly upon said support and for lifting loaded molds 01T the support and carrying them away.

6. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a horizontal support provided with spaced recesses therethrough vfor receiving molds, means for indexing said recesses from station to station, means for forming ware on the molds at some of said stations, a plurality of mold-carrying members, and means for moving said members downwardly through successive recesses at one of said stations and upwardly through successive recesses at another of said stations, whereby molds are deposited on said support by said downwardly moving members and removed from the support by said upwardly moving members.

7. Apparatus for manufacturing ydinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds being intermittently moved through a fabricating zone, jiggering means for fabricating ware on the molds in said zone and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds on said carrying `means and removing filled molds: therefrom and carrying them away.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds being intermittently moved through a fabricating zone, jiggering means for fabricating ware on the molds in said Zone and a continuously moving mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds on said support and removing filled molds therefrom and carrying them away.

9. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, proling means for forming ware on said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom and carrying .them away.

15 10. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising an intermittently moving support for molds for carrying them through a fabricating zone, profiling means for forming ware on said molds in said fabricating zone, and

a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly upon said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom while said support is at rest.

l1. Apparatus for'manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a unitary support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, proling means for forming ware on said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said support.

12. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising an intermittently moving unitary support for molds for carrying them through a fabricating zone, profiling means for forming ware on said molds in said fabricating zone, and a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said support.

13. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating Zone, profiling means for forming Ware on said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for setting empty molds directly upon said support and for lifting loaded molds oli the support and carrying them away.

14. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a die for pressing clay on said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom and carrying them away.

l5. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising an intermittently moving support for molds for carrying them through a fabricating Zone, a die for pressing clay on said molds in said fabricating zone, and a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly upon said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom while said support is at rest.

16. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a unitary support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a die for pressing clay on said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said support.

17. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising an intermittently moving unitary support for molds for carrying them through a fabricating zone, a die for pressing Yclay on said molds in said fabricating Zone, and

a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directlytfrom said support. y Y

18. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a die for pressing clay on said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for setting empty molds directly upon said support and for lifting loaded molds olfthe support and carrying them away.

19. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like, comprising a support for carrying molds through a mold charging zone, means for feeding charges oi clay to said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on said support and removing loaded .molds directly therefrom and carrying them away.

20. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising an intermittently moving support for molds for carrying them through a mold charging zone, means for feeding charges of clay to said molds in said mold charging zone, and a vcontinuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly upon said support and removing loaded molds directly therefrom While said support is at rest.

21. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a unitary support for carrying molds through a mold charging zone, means for feeding charges of clay to said molds in said Zone, and a mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds Ydirectly from said support.

22. Apparatus for manufacturingdinnerware and the like comprising an intermittently moving unitary support for molds for carrying them through a, mold charging Zone, means for feeding charges of clay to said molds in said mold charging zone, and a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor formed for depositing empty molds directly on and removing loaded molds directly from said suppo-rt.

23. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising'a support for carrying molds through a mold charging rnone, `means for feeding charges of clay to said molds in said zone, and a mold conveyor formed for setting empty molds directly upon said support and v for lifting loaded molds off the support and carrying them away.

24. Apparatus for manufacturing'dinnerware and the like, comprising a horizontal support provided with spaced recesses therethrough for receiving molds, means for indexing said recesses from station to station, a die member for pressing clay on molds and a profile for jiggering cay at some of said stations. a plurality of mold carrying members. and means for moving said members downwardly through successive recesses at one of said stations and upwardly through successive recesses at another of said stations, whereby molds are deposited on said support by said downwardly moving members and removed from the support by said upwardly moving members.

25. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like. comprising a horizontal support provided with spaced recesses therethrough for receiving molds, means for indexing said recesses from station to station, a feeder for charging the molds with clay, and a die for pressing clay on the molds and a profile for iiggering clay on the molds at some of said stations, a plurality of mold carrying members. and means for moving said members downwardly through successive recesses at one of said stations and upwardly through successive recesses at another of said stations, whereby molds are deposited on said support by said downwardly moving members and removed from the support by said upwardly moving members.

26. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a charging zone, means for charging molds with clay inV said zone, and a mold conveyor formed forfmeshing mold carriers with 17 said support to bring molds into register with the charging means.

27. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a pressing die formed for shaping clay in said fabricating (zone, means for carrying said die in a circular path in said fabricating zone into and out of register with a mold therebelow, and a continuously moving mold conveyor formed and positioned for transporting molds containing clay to said support and for carrying them away therefrom after the material thereon has been shaped.

28. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a preforming die for shaping clay in said zone mounted to revolve in a circular path into and out of register with molds therebelow and a continuously 18 moving mold conveyor for carrying molds containing clay to said support and for carrying them away after the clay has been shaped.

`29. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying mold carriers through a fabricating Zone, means for jiggering ware in said zone and a mold conveyor having mold carriers formed and positioned for meshing with said support.

30. Apparatus for manufacturing dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds through a fabricating zone, a proiile tool in said zone supported and arranged to be moved in a circular path into and out of register with molds therebelow and a continuously moving mold conveyor for carrying molds containing clay to said support and carrying them away after the clay has been jiggered.

WILLIAM J. MILLER. 

